Power-driven lawn mower



P444124), 1923. l 4,446,444 G. F. BULL ET AL- POWER DRIVEN LAWN MOWER Filed Apr. 24, 1922 2 sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 2m, 1923. G. F. BULL ET AL POWER DRIVEN LAWN MOWER Filed Apr. 24, 1922 2 sheets-sheet 2 Tzzazzfans liatented elm 2ft", llhliid.

i v a r in r is if GEORGE FREDERICK BULL AND fill-HATER STABKEY, OF BIBMINGHAIvL ENGLAND; SAID STAHJZEY ASilIGNOR 0F HIS RIGHT TO CHARLES PUGH LIMITED, OF BIRMINGEAYJJI, ENGilli-i311) POVfER-DRIVEN LA'WN IMOEVEB.

Application filed April 24%, 1922. Serial No. 556,319.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we Gnonen Far-Dimer: BULL and Eanns'r V ALTER STARKEY, subjects of the King ofGreat Britain, and both residing at Birmingham, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Power-Driven Lawn l'vilowers of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in power-driven lawn-mowers and the like, and refers more particularly to that type of machine wherein the power tran mitted from the engine-shaft to the shaft of the driving roller through an intermediate shaft, the three shafts being connected up by suitable driving media. The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and ellicient means for suitably adjusting the intermediate shaft relatively to the other two shafts.

According to this invention we provide a lawn-mower of the type referred to wherein the intermediate shaft is supported by a member disposed at a suitable point in the length of the said shaft; this member being capable of both a longitudinal movement and also of an angular movement about a point in the length of the same.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a powerdriven lawn-mower showing the invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a part sectional plan of the same, and Figure 3 is a sectional view upon the line 3-8, Figure 2.

In carrying out the invention theengino i1 is mounted upon the framework 2 of the machine in any suitable and convenient manner.

Secured to one end of the engine-crank shaft is a sprocket wheel 3 which drives, through the medium of a chain 4c, another wheel 5 mounted upon an intermediate shaft 6. This latter shaft is disposed. transversely of the machine and extends from side to side thereof. Mounted upon one end of the said intermediate shaft and adapted to be con nected thereto by a clutch 7 is a sprocket wheel 8 which drives through the medium of a chain 9, a sprocket wheel 10 keyed to the shaft 11 of the ground rollers 12.

The intermediate shaft is journalled in bearings located in a pair of members disposed longitudinally of the machine and adjacent either side of the same. Each of these members comprises a long bar 13 having at a pointbetween its ends an upstanding short arm lfl at right angles thereto, and it is in these arms thateyes 15 are formed for housing the aforementioned hearings. in one end of each of the said inembersan elongated hole 16 is provided the diameter of which is slightly larger than that of the transverse supportingelement or tie-rod 17 bracing together the side frames 18 of the machine, so that when the member is mounted upon the said tie-rod, as will be hereinafter explained, it will be free to pivot and move longitudinally in respect to the same. but no transverse movement will be permitted thereto. posite end of each of the members a suitably shaped hole 19 is formed whose diameter is larger than that of the transverse. supporting element or tie-rod 20 so that when the latter is passed through the hole a considerable amount of movement is al lowed the said member in all directions. The ends of the shaft supporting members In the opin which the holes 19 are formed are pro vided with extensions 21 which are tied :together by a rod-22 running transversely of the machine; by this means the movements of the members are controlled so'that they take place simultaneously.

When the machine is assembled the eugine is disposed vertically above theground roller with the members 13 carrying the intermediate shaft between the engine and roller, the arrangement being such that the said shaft is disposed out of line with the engine shaft and the ground roller shaft. so that the three shafts form the points of a triangle (Figure 1). Thesaid members 13 are mounted upon the tie-rods v1'? and 20 which pass through apertures in the side members 18, the rod 17 also passing through the elongated holes 16 and the; rod 20 through the holes 19, so that the members are thus permitted to :rnove' longitudinally and also angularly in a vertical plane the members pivoting about the rod 17 passing through the elongated holes. It is by a combination of these two movements that the chains connecting the engine shaft and lay shaft and the lay shaft and ground roller shaft can be adjusted simultaneously, quickly and in a. very simple manner.

To look the members 13 in their adjusted positions Washers 23 are provided on either the clutch lever 26, the latter is pivoted to the tie-rod 22- conneoting the extensions on the ends of the members carrying the lay shaft, the said lever thus nioi "ing with the latter during the operation.

Having fully described our invention,

'WhatWe desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is i 1. A power-driven lawn-mower of the type referred to, having a frame member,

an engine driven shaft, a ground roller shaft, and an intermediate shaft, said shafts being operatively connected, a supporting member for said intermediate shaft, and means connecting said supporting member to said frame member so as to permit end- Wise and angular adjustment of the said member.

2. A power-driven lawn-mower of the type referred to, having a frame member. an engine, a crank shaft driven by said engine, a roller supporting shaft, an intermediate shaft, a member connected to said frame member and supporting said intermediate shaft, said member having length- Wise and angular adjustment, sprocket Wheels on said shafts, sprocket chains connecting said sprocket Wheels, and means for locking said intermediate shaft in itsadjusted position. 7

3; A power-driven lawnmower of the type referred to having; a frame, an intermediate shaft, a member supporting the said shaft, the said member having an elongatedslot at one end thereof and an apertureat the opposite end for permitting limited movement of the member in all. direct-ions Within a vertical plane, a transverse supporting element attached to said frame and passing through the elongated slot, a second transverse supportihoelement At: attached to the frame and aassinq' through the aforesaid aperture in the opposite end of the member, said last named element being of smaller diameter than th' aperture, and means for locking the member in its adjusted position.

a. A power-driven lawnmower of the type referred to having apertured frame members, an intermediate shaft, a supporting member for said intermediate shaft, the said member having an elongated slot at one end thereof, an aperture at theopposite end suitable for permitting movement of said member in all directions Within a vertical plane, a transverse tie-rod pass inp; through the elongated slot so that the member can be adjusted endwise thereon, a second transverse tie-rod passing through the aforesaid aperture in the opposite end of the member, the said last named tie-rod being of smaller diameter than the aperture, said tie-rods passing through the apertures in said frame members, Washers upon the tie rods upon each sideof the supporting member, distance sleeves upon the tie-rods between said frame members and said shaft supporting member, and means upon the tie-rods for pressing the distance sleeves against the Washers-so the the latter lock the shaft supporting member in its adjusted position.

5. A power-driven lawn-mower comprising a frame, an engine mounted on said frame, a roller carrying shaft onsaid frame and beneath said engine, a crank shaft driven by said engine, an intermediate shaft, members supporting said intermediate shaft mounted on said frame for longitudinal and angular adjustment and means for locking said members in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof they unto set their hands in scribing witnesses.

GEORGE FREDERICK BULL; ERNEST WALTER STARKEY.

have herepresonce of tvvo sub- Witnesses:

W. S. SKnRRn'rnz A. N. S- n mnrr. 

